'The Reluctant Debutante' had a lot going for it, with talented actors like Rex Harrison, Kay Kendall and Angela Lansbury and a fine director in Vincente Minnelli. Also like comedy and romance and there are fine examples of both individually and both together.

Of which 'The Reluctant Debutante' is one of them. It is not without its imperfections. The story is thin which makes some of the middle act sluggish and repetitious. Some of Sandra Dee and John Saxon's lines are clunky and not a patch on the adults' material. John Saxon has his bland and wooden moments and Peter Myers is a bore. With all that being said, a huge amount of 'The Reluctant Debutante' works and incredibly well. Sandra Dee is a pert and charming presence and her chemistry with Saxon has its sweet moments. The adult supporting cast are much more impressive though.

Especially Kay Kendall (who died far too young a year later with much more to give),who is exquisite in every sense, comic timing, looks, everything. Rex Harrison delivers a lot of delicious lines with deft ease, with a flair for knowing comic timing and nuance. The film is actually worth seeing for their performances and irresistible chemistry alone. Angela Lansbury makes a thankless role interesting. Minnelli delivers on creating grand spectacle and gorgeous visuals, and paces everything that helps bring believability to the romantic and particularly comedic elements.

Scripting here is generally very good, at its best excellent. The comedic elements are delightfully witty and sophisticated and the romantic elements radiate with charm. There is a great deal of energy too. Lush music score too, with some great use of songs, the Cole Porter hits and "The Boy Next Door" are particular bonbons.

Visually, 'The Reluctant Debutante' looks wonderful. It's beautifully photographed, with opulently designed sets, gorgeous colours that pop out at you and especially those to die for costumes.

Overall, immensely charming and entertaining. 8/10 Bethany Cox

As this was the only film that Rex Harrison and wife number 3 Kay Kendall made together during their marriage this was special to Harrison and he said so in his memoirs. Watching it though I think it would have really suited David Niven.

Playing the title role of The Reluctante Debutante is Sandra Dee who has to guard her virtue most zealously here. She's the daughter of Rex Harrison by his marriage to his American first wife and she's over in Europe visiting dad and new wife Kay Kendall. Since she's of age what better to do than bring her out in society though Dee as the title says is not that eager.

At least until the men start crowding around her like John Saxon who plays drums in the band performing at the society ball where they play danceable standards that the old folks can enjoy as well as new stuff like Rock Around The Clock. There's also this upper class society twit Peter Myers that Kendall favors as a suitable match.

In parts that require them to be charming and little else Harrison and Kendall seem to be enjoying their work. Hanging over them was Kendall's leukemia which made slow steady progression over a few years. Sandra Dee doesn't drip sweet virginity, she's positively saturates the screen with it. As for Saxon he's got a big surprise for all the snotty society folks like Kendall's friend Angela Lansbury also debuting her daughter in society.

The Reluctant Debutante is pleasant viewing for all concerned.

I quite like this movie.

The story is written like a Restoration mistaken identity comedy (think Wycherly, Congreve or Farquahar) but without the low necklines and with much less bawdiness (yes, you may wonder what's left).

The lines given Saxon and Dee are pretty bad - and although Saxon does the best he can, I don't think Sandra Dee does an interesting job at all - she looks quite bored (if pretty). When they're on screen, this is incredibly dull.

Yet the adults, working with almost nothing, go all out and make this a pleasure -- you'll wish that the story were a variant of Unfaithfully Yours with Harrison or Kendall suspecting the other of infidelity and no children in sight.

Yet despite all,

• Minnelli makes the movie stunningly beautiful (you very much want to be there) with great rich colors, London shown in glorious sweeping color, and the movie goes swiftly with wonderful and amusing editing --